Cyclone separator



May 15, 1962 R. c. GlEssE 3,034,647

CYCLONE SEPARATOR Filed June 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Shea?I 1 INVENTOR ROBERTCGIE-SSE. F4 pxyJ/am ATTORNEY5 May 15, 1962 R. c. GlEssE 3,034,647

cYcLoNE sEPARAToR Filed June 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR *1mRoBERTc.G\EssE MAA-.MMM

ATTORNEYS- United States Patent 3,034,647 CYCLONE SEPARATOR Robert C.Giesse, Bettendorf, Iowa, assigner to Ametek, Inc., a corporation ofDelaware Filed June 25, 1959, Ser. No. 822,952 Claims. (Cl. 209-144)This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for thetreat-ment of materials to effect a separating or classifying operation,and particularly to a cyclone separat-or in which the rotational orangular velocity is increased after the material enters the treatmentchamber.

The use of cyclone separato-rs for separation between heavier andlighter constituents of the material being treated is well known. Insuohapparatus the principles of vortex are used so that the heaviermaterials, which are forced by centrifugal force against the peripheryof the chamber, form the underilow of the device and are withdrawnadjacent the bottom of the chamber; whereas, the lighter materials,which rotate at a high speed adjacent Ithe axis of the vortex, form theoverlow and are withdrawn at the top cf the chamber. In utilizing thevortex principle, the moet efficient separation occurs at extremely highrotational velocities. However, it has been found that introduction oflthe materials at the desired high feed pressures results in high nozzlewear and causes high entrance losses, thereby inhibiting the efliciencyof the separation.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus forefficiently separating the heavier and lighter constituents of a treatedmaterial through increased rotational velocity of the body of materialbeing treated after it has entered the treating chamber, therebyminimizing the loss in the peripheral velocity of the body of materialwhen it enters fthe chamber.

It is a further object of this invention to increase the rotationalvelocity of the body of the material after it is inside the chamber bystripping off a portion of the body tangentially at a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced points.

It is a further object of this invention -to minimize entrance lossesand nozzle wear by introducing the body of material being treated at arelatively low feed pressure and thereafter increasing the angular orrotational velocity of the body of material yto ensure efcientseparation. It is a further object of this invention to provideapparatus for controlling the underflow discharge from the chamber.

The cyclone separator of the invention includes a treating chamberhaving a substantially cylindrical upper portion and means forintroducing, under pressure, the material to be treated. This materialis introduced tangentially into a peripheral portion of the interior ofthe upper portion so as to cause the rotation of the body of materialabout the longitudinal axis of the treating chamber. With in thetreating chamber and in the path of flow of the body of material, meansare provided which increase the rotational or angular velocity of thebody of material inside the chamber to thereby effect an eilcientcentrifugal separation between the heavier and lighter constituents ofthe material. The overflow is withdrawn through suitable means at theupper portion of the treating chamber adjacent the longitudinal axisthereof. The underilow is withdrawn from the lower portion of thetreating chamber through suitable means adjacent the longitudinal axisthereof. According to one aspect of the invention, the rotationalvelocity of the body of material is increased by stripping off portion-sof the body tangentially at a plurality of points in the rotational flowset up by the material introducing means.

By providing a plurali-ty of openings connecting the outer and innercompartments of the treating chamber, the

ice

body of material is progressively stripped off thereby increasing theangular velocity of the stripped portion since each of the openings actslas a nozzle without causing undesirable entrance losses.

The foregoing and `other objects, features and advantages hereof Willbecome apparent from the following description and drawings which aremerely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a cross-sectional elevational view of a cyclone separatorembodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view of a cyclone separater accordingto the invention, :taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a modiiied form of rate controller;

FIG. 4 isa cross-sectional elevational view of anotherv form of cycloneseparator embodying the principles of the invention; and ,A

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4looking in the direction of the arrows.

The form of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. l and 2 of the drawings,includes a treating chamber 10 having an upper cylindrical portion 11and a lower frusto-'conical portion 12. An inlet pipe 15 introduces thematerial to be treated tangentially of the cylindrical portion 11against the inner periphery thereof. A suitable pump '(not shown) orother means, feeds the material to be treated, under pressure into inletpipe 15. The material, due to its introduction into portion 1J; in atangential direction, is rotated at a high velocity. Since the operationis `con tinuous, the interior of treating chamber 10` will always `,be

' lled with a body of the material being treated andthe continu-ous feedthrough inlet pipe 15 insures the continuous rotation of this body. Therotational movement of the body of material in chamber 10 produces avortex in which the heavier constituents of the material being treatedmove toward the peripheral surface of the chamber 10 and the lighterconstituents rotate rapidly adjacent the axis of the chamber. Due tothis action the lighter constituents may be removed upwardly as theoverflow of the device through a centrally disposed tube 16. The heavierconstituents which move toward the peripheral surfaceeof the chambertravel downwardly and form the underflow of the device which is removedthrough nozzle 17 at the bottom of chamber 10. Y

In a device of the type described above, it has been' found that therotational velocity of the body of material' is not at its desiredmaximum because of a loss in the pe-v ripheral velocity when thematerial enters chamber 10'. Furthermore, it has been found that if thematerial is in? troduced at a relatively low pressure the nozzle life`i-s materially increased. The device of the invention over` comes thesedifficulties and increases the eifective rotational velocity of the bodyof material by stripping off.

portions of the body of material at circumferentiallyspaced points in atangential direction. This is accomplished by providing av cylindricaltube 19 at vthe upper portion of chamber lll on the interior thereof. Aplurality of tangential openings 20 are formed in tube 19 so that as thebody of material rotates in the direction illustrated by arrows 21,portions of the material will pass through openings 20, as illustratedby the arrows 22, into the interior of cylindrical tube 19. Due to thisstripping off action the body of material on the interior of cylindricaltube 19 rotates at a higher velocity, thereby resulting in a moreefficient separation action, since the entire body of material inchamber 10 will also rotate at a higher velocity. Annular ring 13 issecured to member 12 and is spaced outwardly from tube 19 and isprovided with a tangential opening 14 for nozzle 15. The top of thechamber is closed olf by suitable plate means 18.

ln the form illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the interior aos-1,64?

o r of the separating device has a replaceable rubber hner 12A whichminimizes the erosion of the metal parts. Nozzle 16 is also formed froma suitable hard rubber material.

In order to coordinate the rate of the underflow and the rate of thefeed, a suitable control arrangement, generally designated as 23, isprovided adjacent nozzle 17. This arrangement or device includes asupport member 24 secured to the bottom of chamber 1t! having aplurality of openings 2S therein. Rods 26, having an exterior diametersmaller than the interior diameter of openings 25, are verticallyslidable in openings 2S. The lower ends of rods 26 are secured to acup-shaped member 27 positioned immediately below the exit end of nozzle17. This cup-shaped member preferably has a larger radius than thedischarge end of nozzle 17, since the material leaving discharge nozzle17 has a tendency to move outwardly, due to the centrifugal forceexerted thereon. In order to provide automatic control of the distancebetween the bottom of cup-shaped member 27 and the discharge end ofnozzle 17, springs 28 and abutment nuts 29 are provided. The abutmentnuts are preferably threaded onto the upper ends of rods 26 and thesprings 28 surround rods 26. The ends of the springs 28 engage the uppersurface of support 24 and the lower surface of abutment 29,respectively, so that the cup-shaped member 27 is urged toward thedischarge end of nozzle 17. Thus, when the underflow of material ishigh, the weight of material in cup-shaped member 27 is also high andmember 27 moves downwardly away from the discharge end of nozzle 17against the action of springs 28. This results in increased iiow, in thedirection of the arrows, out of cup-shaped member 27. If the underflowdecreases, the weight of material in cup-shaped member 27 alsodecreases, thereby causing cup-shaped member 27 to move upwardly underthe action of springs 2S and decrease the flow of material out ofcup-shaped member 27. Thus, the flow of material from the nozzle 17 isautomatically controlled. The cup-shaped member 27 is shown in FIG. 1 inits down or loaded position by solid lines, and in an upper position bydotted lines. The springs 28 are selected so that the position of thecupshaped member varies in response to the rate of the underflow.

A modified form of cyclone separator is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.Similar parts in this form are given the same reference numerals, asused in FIGS. l and 2. In this form the upper cylindrical portion 11 isan integral part of chamber l and has no openings. A ring 50 is secured,as by welding, to the top edge thereof. This ring has a plurality oftangential openings 51 therein which correspond to openings in`cylindrical tube 19 of the FIGS. l and 2 modification. A second ring 52having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of ring 50 ismounted on the outside of ring 50. This ring has an inwardly directedange 53 which overlies top plate 18 and rests thereon. The ring issuitably positioned, as by threading it into a nut member 54, secured tothe exterior of chamber 10. Ring 52 has an opening into which feednozzle 55 introduces the material to be treated.

The modified form of the automatic control device 23, as illustrated inFIG. 4, includes downwardly extending rods 57 secured in support 58connected to chamber 10 and upwardly extending rods 59 secured to -acup-shaped member 60 positioned below the discharge end of nozzle 17.Each pair of corresponding rods 57 and 59 are i operation describedabove, with respect to the control device illustrated in FIG. l.

If desired, a manual underflow control valve may be used in place of theautomatic types shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. One type of manual valve isillustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a tapered valve member 70 which isattached by yoke 71 to an annular ring 72 having interior threadingthereon. Ring 72 is threaded onto an exteriorly threaded extension 73secured to the bottom of nozzle 17. The extension 73 has a replaceablerubber valve seat 74 therein. When ring 73 is rotated so as to movevalve member 70 closer to valve seat 74 the amount of underliow isdecreased. Thus, the amount of underow can be accurately controlledmanually.

It is to be understood that the described exemplary embodiments of themethod and apparatus of the invention are merely intended for thepurpose of illustration, and that the principles of the invention arenot to be limited thereto, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A cyclone separator comprising a treating chamber having asubstantially cylindrical upper portion, an annular chamber adjacentsaid cylindrical upper portion, the innermost portion of said annularchamber including an apertured cylindrical member disposed within andconcentric with said cylindrical upper portion, said annular chamberadditionally including upper and lower wall members spaced apart fromeach other and extending from the upper and lower portions,respectively, of said apertured cylindrical member to said cylindricalupper portion, means for introducing the material to be treatedtangentially and under pressure into said annular chamber so as to causethe rotation of the material in said annular cham-ber about thelongitudinal axis of said treating chamber, the apertures of saidcylindrical member of said annular chamber adjacent the path of flow ofthe material in said annular chamber being adapted to increase therotational velocity of the body of material inside the treating chamberby stripping olf portions of the material in said annular chambertangentially at a plurality of points in the rotational flow set up bysaid introducing means, said apertures stripping off said portions fromsaid annular chamber into the interior of said upper portion so as toelfect an efficient centrifugal separation between heavier and lighterconstituents of the material, the combinational effect for the annularchamber and the apertures resulting in the stripping off of all of thematerial in said annular chamber, means adjacent the longitudinal axisof said upper portion for withdrawing the overflow from the upperportion of said treating chamber, and means adjacent the longitudinalaxis of said chamber for withdrawing the underflow from the lowerportion of said treating chamber.

2. A cyclone separator comprising a treating chamber having asubstantially cylindrical upper portion and a frusto-conical lowerportion open at the bottom, an annular chamber adjacent said cylindricalupper portion, the innermost portion of said annular chamber includingan apertured cylindrical member disposed within and concentric with saidcylindrical upper portion, said annular chamber additionally includingupper and lower wall members spaced apart from each other and extendingfrom the upper and lower portions, respectively, of said aperturedcylindrical member to said cylindrical upper portion, means forintroducing the material to be treated tangentially and under pressureinto said annular chamber so as to cause the rotation of the material insaid annular chamber about the longitudinal axis of said treatingchamber, the apertures of said cylindrical member of said annularchamber adjacent the path of flow of the material in said annularchamber being adapted to increase the rotational velocity of the body ofmaterial inside the treating chamber by stripping off portions of thematerial in said annular chamber tangentially at a plurality of pointsin the rotational ow set up by said introducing means, said aperturesstripping oit said portions from said annular chamber into the interiorof said upper portion so as to etiect an efficient centrifugalseparation between heavier and lighter constituents of the material, thecombinational eiiect of the annular chamber and the apertures resultingin the stripping oit of all of the m-aterial in said annular chamber,means adjacent the longitudinal axis of said upper portion forwithdrawing the overow from the upper portion of said treating chamber,the underflow being discharged through the open bottom at the chamber,and means adjacent the longitudinal axis of said chamber for controllingthe ilow from said open bottom.

3. A cyclone separator comprising a treating chamber having asubstantially cylindrical upper portion and a frusto-conical lowerportion open at the bottom, an annular chamber adjacent said cylindricalupper portion, the innermost portion of said annular chamber includingan apertured cylindrical member disposed within and concentric with saidcylindrical upper portion, said annular chamber additionally includingupper and lower wall members spaced apart from each other and extendingfrom the upper and lower portions, respectively, of said aperturedcylindrical member to said cylindrical upper portion, nozzle means forintroducing the material to be treated tangentially and under pressureinto said annular chamber so as to cause the rotation of the material insaid annular chamber about the longitudinal axis of said treatingchamber, the apertures of said cylindrical member of said annularchamber adjacent the path of ow of material in said annular chamberbeing adapted to increase the rotational velocity of the body ofmaterial inside the treating chamber by stripping off portions of thematerial in said annular chamber tangentially at a plurality of pointsin the rotational flow set up by said nozzle means, said aperturesstripping off said portions from said annular chamber into the interiorof said upper portion so as to eiect an etiicient centrifugal separationbetween heavier and lighter constituents of the material, thecombinational eifect of the annular chamber and the apertures resultingin the stripping of all of the material in said annular chamber, meansadjacent the longitudinal axis of said upper portions for withdrawingthe overflow from the upper portion of said treating chamber, theunderflow being discharged through the open bottom of the chamber, andmeans adjacent the longitudinal axis of said chamber for controlling the-ow from said open bottom.

4. A cyclone separator comprising a treating chamber having asubstantially cylindrical upper portion, means for introducing underpressure the material to be treated tangentially into a peripheralportion of the interior of said upper portion so `as to cause therotation of the body of material about the longitudinal axis of saidtreating chamber, a cylindrical member inside of said upper portion atthe upper end thereof and having spaced top and bottom wall membersextending from said cylindrical mem-ber to said cylindrical upperportion forming an enclosed annular space therebetween, said cylindricalmember having a plurality of tangentially disposed openings therein forstripping off portions of the rotating body of material in a tangentialdirection from the enclosed annu- CTI lar space into a peripheralportion of the interior of said member so as to increase the rotationalvelocity of said body of material to thereby effect a moreI efficientcentrifugal separation between heavier and lighter constituents of thematerial, the combinational eiect of the enclosed annular space and themeans for stripping at a plurality of points resulting in the strippingoff of all of the body of material, means adjacent the longitudinal axisof said upper portion for withdrawing the overflow from the upperportion of said treating chamber, and means adjacent the longitudinalaxis of said chamber for withdrawing the underflow from the lowerportion of said treating chamber.

5. A cyclone separator comprising a treating chamber having lasubstantially cylindrical upper portion and a frusto-conical lowerportion open at the bottom, nozzle means for introducing under pressurethe material to be treated tangentially into a peripheral portion of theinterior of said upper portion so as to cause the rotation of the bodyof material about the longitudinal axis of said treating chamber, acylindrical member inside of said upper portion at the upper end thereofand having spaced top and bottom wall members extending from saidcylindrical member to said cylindrical upper portion forming an enclosedannular space therebetween, said cylindrical member having a pluralityof tangentially disposed openings therein for stripping off portions ofthe rotating body of material in a tangential direction from theenclosed annular space into a peripheral portion of the interior of saidmember so as to increase the rotational velocity of said body ofmaterial to thereby effect a more efficient centrifugal separationbetween heavier and lighter constituents of the material, means adjacentthe longitudinal axis of said upper portion for withdrawing the overflowfrom the upper portion of said treating chamber, the combinationaleffect of the enclosed annular space and the means for stripping at aplurality of points resulting in the stripping oit of all of the body ofmaterial, the underflow being discharged through the open bottom of thechamber, and means adjacent the longitudinal axis of said chamber forcontrolling the flow from said open bottom, said last named meansincluding a cup-shaped member positioned below said open bottom andslidably connected to said chamber by a plurality of rods, and springmeans urging said cup-shaped member upwardly toward said open bottom sothat as the underflow of the material in contact with said cup-shapedbody increases it automatically moves further away from the open bot.tom to permit increased flow from said cup-shaped body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS451,362 Beane Apr. 28, 1891 624,684 Richards May 9, 1899 1,149,463Pardee Aug. 10, 1915 1,897,195 Howden Feb. 14, 1933 2,008,643 LockettJuly 16, 1935 2,373,051 Phipps Apr. 3, 1945 2,653,801 Fontein Sept. 29,1953 2,806,599 Patrick r Sept. 17, 1957

